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National Safe Boating Council Receives National Award for Research and Measurement Efforts of Wear It! Campaign

December 7, 2015 by National Safe Boating Council

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The National Safe Boating Council’s (NSBC) Wear It! campaign, a yearlong boating safety effort that promotes consistent wear of life jackets by recreational boaters, was recognized by PR News at the 2015 Platinum PR Awards at the Marriott Marquis in New York City in October.

Wear It! received an Honorable Mention in the Research and Measurement category, a first for the organization. The annual Wear It! Awareness Survey, conducted by Paul Werth Associates, measures the effectiveness of the campaign to promote safer boating and its positive impact on recreational boaters behaviors, such as wearing life jackets.

Leveraging a team of trained volunteers, on-site surveys were collected at different bodies of water around the United States. Based on the locations’ level of Wear It! campaign activity, the bodies of water were classified as no, medium or high activity. Surveys were self-administered and voluntary follow-up interviews were conducted to gain additional insights. The survey found that participants aware of the campaign are significantly more likely to wear life jackets always or most of the time versus those unaware of the campaign.

“Receiving this award is something we’re extremely proud of, as it is the first time the NSBC has been recognized for research and measurement of the campaign. Being recognized in this category further validates that not only is our communications campaign making a difference, but that our research is valid,” said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the NSBC.

PR News’ Platinum PR Awards program annually celebrates the creativity, technological savvy, expert storytelling, and business sense that mark the best communications campaigns from brands, nonprofit organizations and agencies. Each year PR News’ Platinum PR Award winners and honorable mentions set benchmarks for PR and marketing professionals to build on.

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